Sony denies Netflix app to older Bravia smart TVs

Sony today heralded the arrival of Netflix on its Sony Entertainment Network, the content it provides through its smart TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, media streams and, of course, the PlayStation 3.

That's good for Netflix subscribers with a PS3, but other fans of the video-on-demand service are stuffed unless they happen to own one of this year's tellies or Blu-ray boxes.

Sony has neen offering net-connectable TVs and BD players since 2010 - not exactly a timeframe beyond the limits of built-in obsolence, and certainly too short a time for most folk, even Reg-reading tech fans, to have upgraded.

Yet Sony doesn't make these new features available to its existing customers.

"The Netflix app will be available on all 2012 Bravia, Blu-ray and Blu-ray Home Theatre models which feature Sony Entertainment Network," says Sony at the end of its announcement.

Not a word on 2011 or 2010 sets and boxes. They are clearly too ancient in Sony's view.

Or maybe it hopes we'll all buy a new TV just for these new features. And hopes we'll do so again, next year. And the year after that. That seems a tad harsh too us, even if Sony is losing money hand over fist on its TV production.

Or maybe Sony would actually sell more TVs if it stopped shoving customers out into the cold almost as soon as they've taken delivery of their new set? Supporting older but still recent models - now there's a thought… ®